The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has unveiled a new five-year strategic plan to solidify its position as a leading force in African peace and security. The plan, launched on April 25, 2024, emphasizes training, research, education, and policy development to tackle the continent’s pressing security issues.
Building on its successful past, KAIPTC’s 2024-2028 Strategic Plan outlines a comprehensive approach to equip civilians, military, and police professionals with the skills needed to effectively manage conflicts and contribute to peacebuilding efforts.
The new Strategic Plan, backed by Norway and Germany through GIZ, will serve as a roadmap for KAIPTC’s activities from 2024 to 2028, strengthening its capacity in providing crucial support to peace and security across Africa.
The plan acknowledges the evolving nature of African security challenges, including geopolitical tensions, religious and ethnic conflicts, climate change, and violent extremism.
“The launch of this ambitious plan signifies KAIPTC’s commitment to providing innovative training programs, academic programs, and research in peace and security,” the Commandant of KAIPTC, Major General Richard Addo Gyane said.
“By equipping key decision-makers and policymakers with the necessary tools and knowledge, we can contribute to conflict prevention, management, and resolution across Africa,” he added. He pledged KAIPTCs continued thrive to be at the forefront of developing strategies to address these complex issues.
The Political Officer at the German Embassy, who represented the German Ambassador at the event, Ms Pauline Okkens, a key partner of KAIPTC, commended the plan’s focus on gender and youth empowerment, which she said aligns with Germany’s Feminist Foreign Policy. She particularly lauded the Strategic Plan’s thematic focus on Climate and Environmental Security, emphasizing how the urgency of addressing climate challenges is rapidly escalating in the realm of security policy.
Ms Okkens underscored the critical importance of proactive measures to prevent, mitigate, and ultimately resolve conflicts arising from the devastating impacts of climate change.
Building a Sustainable Future
The Director of KAIPTC’s Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Department, Ms Horname Noagbesenu, in her remarks emphasized that the new plan builds upon previous successes while incorporating new strategies to achieve set goals.
Building upon the successes of the 2019-2023 plan, Ms Noagbesenu said that incorporating innovative additions to address emerging challenges were also to ensure the attainment of the Centre’s set goals.
“As KAIPTC embarks on this ambitious quest for peace, we acknowledge the opportunities and hurdles that lie ahead and by confronting these challenges head-on, we will truly honour the exceptional legacy of both our esteemed institution and the late Kofi Annan,” Ms Noagbesenu said.
She highlighted the Centre’s unwavering commitment in building a future where conflicts are effectively managed, human rights are universally respected, and peace transcends the realm of dreams to become a tangible reality.
“The strategic plan outlines KAIPTC’s commitment to financial and institutional sustainability which includes developing innovative training courses, expanding academic programs, and leveraging digital learning tools like Artificial Intelligence,” Ms Noagbesenu stressed.
Dignitaries that participated in the launch of the Strategic Plan included the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, the Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana and some Generals from the Ghana Armed Forces.